Becky Nash was all smiles as she lifted the girls title at the first Sussex Mini Tennis Championships at Haywards Heath.

The main priority of the event was to attract new players and around 200 took part, and although the taking part was fun, winning was a bonus for Becky and boys champion Tom Biltcliffe.

Becky, from Bexhill, burst into tears when she lost her first ever final in an Sussex LTA Starter event at Battle Abbey two years ago.

But the six-year-old's grin lasted all the way home after she defeated Libby Wright, a Sompting Abbotts pupil from East Preston, 11-2 in the final.

It completed a double for the the 3ft tall mighty mini who guided hosts St Bedes (Eastbourne) to the girls' HSBC Sussex Schools Eight and Under Championship title last week.

Her father Chris, a tennis coach, said: "I remember Becky bursting into tears after losing that final at Battle Abbey.

"But there wasn't even tears of joy at the Dolphin. She was totally unfazed throughout, although she was a little nervous beforehand and she had a big wide smile."

Her dad believes her victory was down to the help his daughter gets from her granddad Alan Montague and the St Bedes Schools Academy.

He said: "My father-in-law takes Becky for quite a bit of coaching.

"She gets plenty of tennis at St Bedes. They have around 150 kids and a list of 40 to 50 fixtures with other schools."

Tom, seven, from St Andrew's, Eastbourne, claimed the boys' crown when he overcame Hamish Smellie (Cross In Hand) 13-11 in only his second competition.

His mother Roma said: "He finished runner-up to Hamish with the top four going through in the qualifier.He even lost to Hamish in the group matches at the Doiphin."

The 64 players had been whittled down from qualifiers in Angmering, Bexhill, Brighton, Burgess Hill, Chichester, Crawley, Crowborough, Eastbourne, Hastings, Heathfield, Henfield, Horsham, Littlehampton and Rye.

The Dolphin was packed with parents as they watched the children play on converted badminton courts with a soft spongy ball.

Organiser Charlotte Slade said: "There were no mini McEnroe tantrums, but there were a few tears shed after defeats."

One youngster rushed off in tears before our photographer could capture all eight semi-finalists. We had to settled for seven.